Mosses and Lichens

Mosses and lichens are both used in crafts and floral arranging. But what are they? Mosses are an ancient plant form that exists today in many forms. It is considered a non-vasular plant which simply means it does not have the the developed connective tubes of other plants such as trees, flowers, and grass, which are vascular plants. Because having those connective tubes lets plants grow tall, most mosses are small and short. They like wet enviorments and will shrivel up and go into hibernation when the moisture is not available to them. Mosses do not have roots. They can grow on the ground, wood, rocks, and many other surfaces. Although most mosses are green, not all of them are. They can also be golden, brownish, or have red stems.

Oregon Beaked Moss Stage 2      Hair Cap or Bottle Brush Moss

Lichens, on the other hand, belong to the fungal plant kingdom. Lichens are a strange plant that have alge within the plant itself. This means it does not have to live off of other organisms the way most fungi do. Lichens come in many colors, sizes and textures. When dry, they have a much more rigid structure than mosses have. Some look like coral, others like antlers, and still others form rosettes of leathery "leaves". White, pale green, pale yellow, gray,orange, pink, and black are just a few of the colors you can find in this strange plant.

Lettuce, Tube and Oak Moss Lichen Mix     Mermaid's Hair Lichen

So how do you choose?

For wreaths you want either hanging or bearded mosses, or strand type lichens. Good examples of these are Cat Tail Moss, also know by the common name of Bearded Moss, and Oregon Beaked Moss. These have long soft feathery strands ranging from 2 to 8 inches. As for lichens good choices would be Witch's Hair and Mermaids Hair. Both are stringy lichens that grow in wispy tangles. These will also work well for drapping on doll houses, castles, railway stations or other model structures. Another possibility is Green or Golden Sheet Moss. These mosses grow in "sheets" or tangles, which makes them ideal for covering large area or wrapping around surfaces.  All of these drape well and can be wrapped easily around twigs, wires, or armatures.

     Golden Sheet Moss

When doing dioramas you often want mosses or lichens that can pass as trees or bushes on a small scale. Some common types that will work well for this are Reindeer Moss (actually a member of the lichen family), Tube Lichen, and Hair Cap (Bottle Brush) moss. For the look of ferns, go with Fairy Fern moss. Both Fairy Fern and Hair Cap moss have strong wirey stems allowing them to stay straight up.

    Fairy Fern Moss                        Reindeer Moss (lichen)

When choosing a moss or lichen to use as filler in floral arranging, you want one with some body  or stiffness to it. It needs to be attractive, fill the space, and allow air to circulate. Some excellent choices would be Big Shaggy moss, which is a branched, leggy variety, any of the sheet mosses, Oak Moss Lichen, Lettuce Lichen, or Tube Lichen.  Both Lettuce and Tube lichen come in a lovely variety of pale pastel greens, creams, sometimes shading to pinks or yellows.  Some varieties also have black undersides adding another dimension to the overall look of the lichen.

    Lettuce Lichen                             Oak Moss Lichen

With all mosses and lichen store them in a cool, dry, dark place until you are ready to use it. Both mosses and lichens can be preserved in a number of ways. One of the best ways for dioramas, wreaths, and dry floral arrangements is to use an acrylic finishing spray. This will help retain the color and integrity of the moss or lichen.

                                        Moss Wreath

Lastly, remember there are no hard and fast rules as to what to use where. Have fun with it and experiment. Create a forest with Tube Lichen for trunks and Hair Cap Moss for the foliage. Mix lichens and mosses together in a clear vase as the base for a dried flower arrangement. Your only limit is your own imagination!

Check out my great selection of mosses and lichens in my eBay store !Tangee's Treasures